Support system providing a supporting surface for rest in a vehicle

Abstract

A support system is provided for a passenger vehicle having front seats, rear seats, a front anchoring feature 3 forwardly of a gap between the front and rear seats and a rear anchoring feature 2 rearwardly of the gap. The support system includes (i) a panel structure, (ii) front end connectors connecting the panel structure to the front anchoring features of the vehicle, (iii) rear end connectors connecting the panel structure to the rear anchoring features of the vehicle, and (iv) a supporting arrangement providing support to laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure to resist inward displacement of the laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure towards one another when supporting a load on an upper supporting surface of the panel structure. The supporting surface extends the substantially horizontal supporting platform at the rear of a vehicle for extending the resting or storage area of the vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A support system for a highway passenger vehicle including at least one front seat, at least one rear seat spaced rearwardly of the at least one front seat to define a gap between the at least one front seat and the at least one rear seat, a front anchoring feature at a forward side of the gap and a rear anchoring feature at a rear side of the gap, the system comprising:
 a panel structure comprising a sheet of flexible material arranged to span the gap from a front portion of the panel structure at the at least one front seat to a rear portion of the panel structure at the at least one rear seat of the vehicle, the panel structure defining an upper supporting surface spanning an upper side of the panel structure for supporting a load thereon; 
 one or more front end connectors joined to the front portion of the panel structure and arranged for connection to the front anchoring feature of the vehicle; 
 one or more rear end connectors joined to the rear portion of the panel structure and arranged for connection to the rear anchoring feature of the vehicle; and 
 a supporting arrangement providing support to laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure to resist inward displacement of the laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure towards one another when supporting the load on the upper supporting surface of the panel structure; 
 wherein the supporting arrangement comprises a forward rigid member arranged to be supported under compression laterally of the panel structure between opposing ends of the forward rigid member; 
 wherein the forward rigid member comprises an elongate pole coupled to the panels structure in proximity to the front portion of the panel structure, the elongate pole being collapsible in length between the opposing ends; 
 wherein the panel structure is foldable upon removal of the supporting arrangement from the panel structure; and 
 wherein the panel structure captures the opposing ends of the forward rigid member thereon whereby lateral tension of the panel structure is transferred to a compressive load on the forward rigid member between the opposing ends of the forward rigid member. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more front end connectors are joined to the panel structure at respective mounting locations spaced laterally inwardly from the laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1  wherein one of the opposing ends of the forward rigid member is captured by a backing panel which is operable between a working position capturing the end of the forward rigid member relative to the panel structure so as to transfer the lateral tension of the panel structure to the compressive load on the forward rigid member and a released position allowing the forward rigid member to be removed from the panel structure. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the forward rigid member is removably supported on the panel structure. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the forward rigid member is collapsible in length from a working position to a storage position. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 5  wherein the forward rigid member is readily collapsible by folding opposing end portions of the forward rigid member towards one another in a first direction of folding from the working position and resists folding of the opposing end portions of the forward rigid member towards one another in a second direction of folding from the working position. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the panel structure protrudes forwardly beyond the forward rigid member and wherein the one or more front end connectors are connected to the panel structure at a location spaced forwardly from the forward rigid member. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the supporting arrangement further comprises a rear rigid member spanning laterally under compression between the laterally opposing side portions of the panel structure in proximity to the rear portion of the panel structure. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8  wherein the panel structure protrudes rearwardly beyond the rear rigid member and wherein the one or more rear end connectors are connected to the panel structure at a location spaced rearwardly from the rear rigid member. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1  wherein said one or more rear end connectors comprises a strap member which is adjustable in length. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the rear anchoring feature is located on the at least one rear seat of the vehicle and wherein the one or more rear end connectors are arranged to be secured to the rear anchoring feature on the at least one rear seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the rear anchoring feature comprises a child seat anchor of the vehicle situated rearwardly of a seating surface of the one or more rear seats of the vehicle and wherein the one or more rear connectors is adapted to mount onto the child seat anchor when the at least one rear seat is folded forwardly into a storage position of the at least one rear seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 12  wherein the one or more rear end connectors is arranged to be releasably mounted onto the panel structure at any selected one of a plurality of designated mounting locations laterally offset from one another across a width of the panel structure. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 1  wherein the front anchoring feature is located on the vehicle at an elevated location spaced above the upper supporting surface of the panel structure when the support system is supported in the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14  wherein the front anchoring feature on the vehicle comprises a headrest assembly on said at least one front seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 1  wherein said one or more front end connectors comprises a strap member which is adjustable in length. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 1  in combination with the vehicle wherein the at least one rear seat is folded forwardly into a storage position such that a backside of the at least one rear seat defines an upper surface of the folded at least one rear seat, the system further comprising:
 the panel structure being supported against the upper surface of the folded at least one rear seat; 
 the upper supporting surface of the panel structure extending forwardly from the upper surface of the folded at least one rear seat; and 
 the upper supporting surface of the panel structure and the upper surface of the folded at least one rear seat forming a continuous supporting platform. 
 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 1  in combination with the vehicle wherein the at least one rear seat includes a seat bottom having an upper seating surface arranged to support a user seated thereon, the system further comprising:
 the panel structure being supported against the upper seating surface of the at least one rear seat such that the upper supporting surface of the panel structure and the upper seating surface of the at least one rear seat form a continuous supporting platform; 
 the one or more rear end connectors being joined to the rear anchoring features at the rear of the upper seating surface of the at least one rear seat; and 
 the one or more front end connectors being joined to the front anchoring features at an elevated location spaced above the upper supporting surface of the panel structure.